Residents and business owners in a Wirral town have vowed to continue campaigning for their preferred regeneration scheme after the council opted against the proposal that received overwhelming public backing in a consultation survey.
Infuriated by the councillors’ decision to choose a cheaper option for surface works on Bebington Road in New Ferry, locals are crowdfunding to finance their own campaign, in hopes of overturning the council’s decision and securing their preferred premium option. Cash to buy leaflets and banners has been rolling in from across the community as they seek to ensure the debate continues.
Earlier this month, members of Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency, and Transport Committee met to vote on planned regeneration works for Bebington Road in New Ferry. Councillors were presented with three options for how the pedestrianised shopping area could look.
A public consultation showed that 83% of the public preferred an option which included costly materials, including bespoke paving tiles along the street – and which is estimated to be over budget.
Despite the overwhelming public support, councillors voted to go ahead with a cheaper option involving coloured tarmac.
A report to the committee explained that a budget of £5.5m had been approved for the project. Each option was costed in January 2025, with the most expensive option being costed at £5.7m whilst the cheapest was costed at £4.5m. However, the report explains the true cost could be different as, “it is acknowledged that the designs have since evolved”.
The more expensive ‘option one’, backed by locals, would be akin to the tiles seen on Birkenhead’s Grange Road, whilst the cheaper ‘option two’ would be similar to the paving seen on West Kirby’s promenade.
In the days following the decision, which led to shouts of ‘shame on you’ echoing through Wallasey Town Hall, the leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paula Basnett, appeared in a video posted online where she supported the committee’s decision to back option two.
In the video, the council leader said “we must learn from past mistakes.” Cllr Basnett said the Grange Road tiles are “not wearing well,” just six months after being installed. She added the Grange Road project: “Went well over budget, was badly delayed, and caused months of disruption for businesses and shoppers alike. I don’t want that for New Ferry.”
Cllr Basnett added, “We can deliver high-quality public realm successfully, just look at West Kirby, where the new surface and planters, installed almost three years ago, still look great today.”
In addition to increased installation time, the council report explained that the more costly option could cause issues long-term. It is said, “Higher specification materials and bespoke features are likely to result in increased future maintenance and replacement costs, which would present a pressure to already strained Council revenue budgets.”
Not sold by the justification, residents in New Ferry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that they “do not accept” the committee’s decision and have pledged to continue their campaign.
Sam Jelenski, the owner of Lumi Place Community Shop, has launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a campaign to overturn the decision. Sam told the LDRS, “Every campaign needs financial backing to print leaflets or banners.” He explained the group plans to obtain a large vinyl banner to help with their campaigning. At the time of writing, £430 of an £800 target has been raised.
Local resident, Tony Norbury, told the LDRS, “Businesses and the people of New Ferry deserve the very, very best. They don’t deserve having options put in front of them and then taken away.”
Speaking about the more premium option, local business owner, Annalisa Allure, said, “If we couldn’t have that, why put it on the table? I want New Ferry to get what we deserve.” Annalisa suggested the greater disruption, which the costly option would cause, “would be worthwhile if we get what we want”.
Local ward councillor, Jo Green, sits on the committee which voted on the issue. Cllr Green was among the minority who backed the higher-spec option during the meeting. Cllr Bird told the LDRS that residents in New Ferry “are reeling” from the decision made at the committee.
In addition to the more premium paving, the public-backed option also included a butterfly trail and information boards about the town and its history. Cllr Bird said, “We want paving stones not tarmac, we want to bring back the butterflies, and we want to celebrate out culture and our history.”
Image: Cllr Jo Bird with residents and business owners in New Ferry. Credit: Andrew Spence
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